The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#30

The Insecure Writer’s Support Groupis a platform for all writers where we get a chance to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. The group posts the first Wednesday of every month. You are encouraged to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

Did you know that the average shrinkage of sentences in English prose from Elizabethan times to 1900 was from one-half to about roughly one-third? Sentences, like paragraphs, are getting shorter because of changes over time in technology and ways in which we communicate. This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that in today's society, people have shorter attention spans, are under the mistaken belief that “I can multi-task”, and, as a result, have gotten too stupid/lazy to process complex thoughts…

Are shorter sentences the way to go? It goes without saying that sentences should vary in structure, size, and shape; that's hard to do if you don't write some long ones.

I do prefer short sentences. They work well. Especially with micro-fiction.

However, I also love the pacing of a well-constructed long sentence, which can be elegant and really effective, without necessarily being too heavy or "flowery"…

Quote: "In general, shorter is better. If you can encapsulate your idea into a single captivating sentence, you're halfway home."—Len Wein

With regards to readable sentences, did you know:

The easiest sentence to read? 8 words.

1-20 words: easy to read.

21-25 words: easy to understand.

26-29: difficult to follow.

30+ words: confusing.

On the scale of 1to 30+ words per sentence, where do you fall more-or-less…? Are you more inclined towards short and snappy sentences? Or long and drawn out ones? What are your thoughts?

It depends on what genre I'm writing. 😉 I tend to lean toward the short end–since I write for young adults and their attention spans are shrinking. Still, variety really is the spice of life. I tend to believe short sentences place emphasis better than long ones, but that's just me. =)

I wonder if/when the shrinking attention span phenomenon will stop? This will have serious implications for the future of the lengthy sentence. Imagine a world where people communicate via short, snappy sentences only? Scary… 🙂

I actually didn't find the example monotonous. Lol! They had different syllables. Now, it was boring, bit that was because he wasn't talking about anything. I like my short sentences, but I think when you're writing, it just naturally varies. This is just one of those things that we just don't need to be thinking about when we're writing.

When I read The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I discovered some of those wonderful lengthy, mellifluous sentences you are talking about, in the chunks of long prose passages. I look forward to reading your reflections on the "music" of English. That will be an interesting subject.

I've read and written both. For a faster pace, sometimes short and snappy is best. But you're right the short sentences can get tedious. I've read a book where a somewhat famous author actually has many paragraphs that are comprised of one sentence with comma's. I like her writing, but sometimes I want to break it down for her.

Imho, if you're talking fiction, it depends on the scene. If it's a character introspection at a transition or slower part, then longer sentences (to a point–and still varied!) works well. In a fast, 'action' or tense scene, shorter is better.

I find that a healty mixture of long, medium, and short works best for me. Long sentences can be good for when something needs to be dragged out make it more intense or clarified. Short sentences seem to be good or expressing emotion and speed; as if something is happing fast or happening while someone is in a hurry. I think is all about how the sentences are used.

Oh I like this post and a great reminder to vary sentence length to make it sing. (; It also reminds me of a post I wrote a while back about one of my old Whinny the Pooh books printed in the late 1970s. It has a 73 word opening! Things have certainly changed.

I favor the short sentences, but whether mine is snappy I'm not really sure. I guess it is because I am a lazy reader, so I tend to be a lazy writer too. This is a great post. I had never thought about sentence length before. Great info.

True confessions: I tend to write these huge monster sentences. Then, I go back and revise. Like, right now I have to consciously force myself to start out with a few small sentences before earning a bigger one. It's funny to realize I'm doing this. =D Great reflection. Thanks!

I tend to write relatively short sentences in my book. My belief on the matter is you can either have a complex story OR complex writing, but not both or you bog down the reader, so the sentence length and complexity has lost out to my love of a twisty plot. I DO vary them within that short range to play with pace–short sentences pick it up, longer ones slow it down.

I tend to be a bit florid if I don't rein myself in. My critique recently called me on a paragraph long sentence that would have made William Faulkner proud. 🙂 But, I do feel that I am learning the value of sentence length in pacing for storytelling. Good post!

I suppose the trick is to create a long sentence without it sounding too fussy, and it shouldn't affect the fluidity of the reading pace either. How does one accomplish that? Lots of practise, I'm sure… 🙂

This is excellent writing advice. One of the guys in my writing group is really good at pointing out when people overuse the same sentence structure. I try to vary it up, but have really had to work on writing shorter sentences. By nature, I'm verbose.

Very interesting post. Based on the stuff I used to read in high school, I love long, convoluted sentences and my writing used to reflect that. These days, I'm writing much shorter sentences. I find that a fair amount of people want very simple reading. Anything else and there are complaints about slow pacing. For me, as long as the story is intersting and the writer is good, I'll take a mixture of sentence lengths.

I think I have a Goldilocks thing going on with sentences. I don't like the really short ones, especially when they're used with frequency. I also find super-long sentences to be tiresome. Medium-length sentences are juuuuuust right! Of course they all should be combined to have the best effect 🙂

I have become more enamored of the short paragraph though. Especially when writing action scenes, short paragraphs keep things moving.

I really vary the length, but it depends on what I'm writing. Action sequences and high drama call for short, quick sentences. Otherwise, I go with what feels natural and don't think about it too much.

HI Michelle .. interesting – I know I write more easily if I'm writing for myself and it's personal to a degree; however my blog posts are long, but I break the paragraphs up and add in photos to engage readers' attention.

I did write one normal article recently and it wasn't very good and thankfully someone amended it for me .. I've got used to my blogging voice!

shorter sentences have periods, longer ones have commas… as long as they're good, the length shouldn't matter. love the quote! and your examples =) and writers have to keep up with the times – or set the times! good is good!

Very interesting post. I like sentences of all lengths and vary them depending on what is going on in the scene when I write — shorter for bursts of action and longer for description and slower moments. Gary Provost's paragraphs are great examples of the music and rhythm of the written word. Thanks for sharing them!

I love that quote so much! I have been told that my writing can be lyrcial. I hope that is because of my word choice and sentence length. Yes, there is a cadence to language. I do prefer the short and snappy. I'm thinking with the use of criptic text messages, today's youth get lost after three characters.

Frightening thought, Mary. As language evolves, I wonder what the future holds for the sentence. If we're already down to sms style, then what next? Maybe a reversal? Back to the days of Jane-Austen-styled sentences?

I use sentences of all lengths. Targeted scenes, action scenes for example, may demand shorter sentences, but straight narrative calls for variation to create an appealing rhythm. As a reader, I don't want to be told a story but to be drawn into the tale. That requires that prose flow. Flow can only be achieved by varying sentence length and structure.

I never pay much attention to sentence lengths, only to the sound of what I write. I think is a very good thing for telling me when to cut sentences short, when to lengthen them. Good advice here, Michelle.

In revision, I try for different lengths. However, this sentence structure right here right now: this is what I get stuck in while blogging, drafting, etc. I like little sections with a short break. I don't know why. I feel conversational with commas. This leads to some ill-placed commas and bad habits. Sigh. Oh well. I like learning and growing and I have lots of room to grow, right?

It's all about the rhythm, baby! That's why I also enjoy poetry. It's also why you are the Queen of Five Sentence Fiction. I'm sure it's second nature to you as a performer. You've really struck a chord here with so many great comments!

How are you? I like this post… I find with my writing I try for a balance. When I want the story to move quickly and add tension, I'll use a shorter sentence. If I want emotion or atmosphere I'll beef it up. As for word count, somewhere from fifteen to twenty.

Your writing flows, so I think you're close to mastering the short/medium/long sentence variation technique. I don't think it's something that can be learned, in the sense that it can't be a conscious decision while you are writing. It comes with practise, from somewhere deep inside, when a write "get's into the zone". But I could be wrong.

That's very interesting! I use short to medium length sentences more in my writing because I write a lot of action, and short sentences is better for action scenes. But every now and then longer ones do make it in there. I always make sure they are easy to follow and understand, though.

Are you into irony? Wonder why it has taken me so long to get to your blog? Okay, so many are doing that clique thing "I Was Seeking Gary", that it has taken me two days to get here 🙂

That Gary writes like me. Yay to that. I'm a huge fan of grammar anarchy. Bet that surprises you to the point of shocked wonder and speaking of wonder and no commas you might notice that I now overuse the conjunction word "and" and with that and for no obvious reason this sentence without commas will abruptly end!

Thank you for being part of that amazing "I Was Seeking Gary" dedication post.

I used to write very long sentences. I actually wrote in English the same way I wrote in Spanish but eventually I learned this is not the best way to go. Now I think it depends on my mood, haha. Not the best way to go either.

As long as you're writing, and you're content with what you're writing, Al. That's the most important part. Whether it's dictated to by mood or sentence length… you still created something! The creativity is the main thing, right?

I do tend to be way to verbose, as a general rule. So I try really hard to create shorter sentences- especially with the mico-fiction. Because even with my best efforts my sentences tend to be very long, so if I can get short I do. That Len Wein quote should be pasted across the top of my computer screen.

Good question, about the number of words that I use in my writing; the lengths of sentences. Sometimes I write very long and complicated sentences with many dependent clauses and adverbial phrases and much digression. Other times, short fragments. Sentences without verbs.

But at the moment, I need to get a paper written for school, and all my creative writing is on hold.

We just had this discussion about sentence length at the Writers Chatroom last night. While we felt a mix keeps the writing more interesting, I think we all agreed different genres demand different lengths of sentences. .Most writers thought romance allows longer, fluid sentences. Thrillers are enhanced by short sentences to generate the suspense and action. Really enjoyed the discussion here. I was btought up short when you mentioned people have shorter attention spans now. I've heard that before. Why? Because we have such busy lives, no time to sit and think? Are we dumbing down? Guess I'll have to google that!

I think the short attention span is influenced by the instant gratification lifestyle that we live. Instant gratification has permeated all layers of society. It's now the primary way of life. We now gratify many of our needs with just an internet enabled device, e.g. one-click ordering via Amazon. It's become a world that's moving quickly, a world of rapid change and quick fixes – so it demands an ability to be able to switch focus from this to that… on and off… hence the shorter attention span. It's almost as if technology has "taken away" the luxury of the long attention span. And yes, I suspect we are "dumbing down"…